Should I Branch Out?
The story
Hey! It's Caralia. My dad, let's call him Diego. So, my little brother and I have a 3 year age gap. Keep that noted. So as the eldest sister, for 3 years, I had all the attention. My mom was always studying for nursing school, and dad had the shitty job-good pay. Then, my little brother, Dominic was born. All the attention shifted to the newborn. Diego was already stressed with bipolar, work, and a newborn, plus a jealous 3-year-old. My dad would often lash out at me, and leave all parts of my brother out. Time skip to when I'm nine. My dad emotionally made me insecure and belittled constantly, but I searched comfort from friends. My mother was usually at work for 5 hours a week nightshift nursing. I tried to get good grades, I achieved it. But my dad didn't care. Just told me to fuck off. My brother was 6 at the time, and I despised him. When I was 10, I developed a healthy relationship with my brother. Dominic is like my best friend despite all the old jealously that doesn't linger. My dad started a different, more effective medication for bipolar. For the past few years, he's been much better of a dad, but I still have emotional breakage because of him. I have diagnosed major anxiety and minor depression. I also take LexaPro and Hydroxozine. My dad tries to be better, but everytime he tries to have a conversation deeper than, 'What's your favorite color' I immediately like shut down.
Should I Forgive Him?
Stories in the same category
Points of view
hey Caralia, sounds like you’ve been through quite a ride 😅 i can see how growing up with all that going on would leave some scars. maybe it’s worth seeing your dad's efforts as his way of trying to fix things, even if it feels uncomfortable for now. figuring out family stuff ain't easy; my own dad and i used to have tons of misunderstandings too, but we tried working through them slowly. sometimes keeping the communication open a little at a time helps. remember to take care of yourself and lean on Dominic when needed. you're doing great navigating such a tricky situation!
Hey Caralia, sounds like a real emotional rollercoaster 😅. Growing up in a family with those dynamics can definitely leave you feeling like you're juggling too many balls in the air at once; it's tough when you feel responsible for keeping the peace while dealing with your own stuff. It's good to hear things are improving with your dad now, even if it's still hard for you to open up - healing takes time and isn't always linear. Just because it’s been rough doesn’t mean it has to stay that way; change is possible over time, just like how things evolved with Dominic. Keep finding those moments of joy and connection where you can!tiny victories add up!
hey caralia, it sounds like you've been through a lot; i totally get how growing up in that situation can mess with your head. it's awesome that you managed to build such a strong bond with dominic after everything! sibling relationships can be super powerful and healing. as for your dad, it’s good he’s trying to do better now, but it doesn’t erase the past… i think you’re doing great balancing all this while taking care of yourself! sometimes finding ways to set personal boundaries can help protect your mental space when things get heavy;;; keep focusing on building those healthy connections, whether it’s friends or family<3